January in the garden

Ornamental garden:

  • Prune apples and pears, Cut back by a third to remove any dead or weak growth, aiming to create an open framework of about 5 main branches.
  • Take root cuttings from perennials for new growth in time for spring.
  • Sweet peas can be sown this month and those sown in the autumn can be potted on. For the best results, place on a warm windowsill to get them going.
  • Plan annual cut flowers for the borders.
  • Mulch borders if not already done in autumn.
  • Plant deciduous hedges.
  • Move deciduous trees and shrubs if necessary.


Vegetable garden:

  • Protect brassicas with cloches, netting or fleece.
  • Harvest Winter veg such as parsnip, swede, sprouts, leeks and turnip.
  • Remove one-third of the oldest stems of blackcurrants at ground level to encourage new basal shoots.
  • Plan this year’s crop rotation –  aim to grow each crop in a different bed to last year’s to avoid the risk of disease.
  • Start chitting seed potatoes.

Other jobs:

  • Ventilate the greenhouse regularly to avoid moisture build-up.
  • Keep bird-feeders and bird baths topped up.
  • Clean pots and seed trays.
  • Check tree stakes and ties.
  • Inspect toolsand sharpen secateurs.
  • Clean plant labels
  • Check compost bins for excess moisture and turn regularly. 
  • Organise seed collections and start planning your garden layout for the year ahead.
  • Order new seeds to sow.

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